Students under the age of 18 as of December 31, 2011, who have not yet graduated from high school or the equivalent, are eligible to participate. Contest Rules and application forms are available at http://www.optimist.org/form/oratorical_rules_pad-e_11-12.pdf or by contacting the LAMP Optimist Club at (626) 607-6837.

"As they prepare for their future, many of our local students need experience expressing their thoughts and opinions to an audience," Club President Sam Luk said. "The Oratorical Contest challenges them to do just that and also offers an opportunity for scholarships. In this way, our club hopes to bring out the best in each of them and help them achieve their goals for the future."

The deadline to hand in speeches is March 9. Students wishing to participate in the oratorical contest can find out more about the contest by contacting the club at (626) 607-6837.

The LAMP Optimist has been participating in the Optimist Oratorical Contest for more than 20 years and has been active in the community since 1957. Other programs and service projects that the Club is involved in include scholarships, Childhood Cancer Foundation, Scholarships and sponsoring community programs.

Optimist International is one of the world's largest service club organizations with 100,000 adult and youth members in 3,400 clubs in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean and Mexico and throughout the world. The Optimist Oratorical Contest is one of the organization's most popular programs, with more than 2,000 clubs participating annually. Carrying the motto "Bringing Out the Best in Kids," Optimists conduct positive service projects that reach more than six million young people each year.